Health & Wellness News

COVID related hospitalizations are up 121% in Lehigh and Northampton counties according to the CDC. A Lehigh Valley doctor says the numbers seem worse than they are.

A pop-up health clinic in Allentown will offer free services Saturday and Sunday. No identification or prior paperwork is necessary.

National Health Centers Week raises awareness about federally qualified community health centers. Those in the Lehigh Valley are marking the occasion with events.

St. Luke’s University Health Network and the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley have partnered to create the Cultural & Linguistic Workforce Development Centers. Those eligible can enroll this fall in the programs.

Inclusion zones are set up at Musikfest to help people of all abilities enjoy the fun in Bethlehem. The areas on both the north and south side of the event offer sensory-supportive ways for adults and children to take a break from the action.

A wound care clinic, independent of the area hospitals, is now open in Salisbury Township. The office is staffed with physical therapists to treat a wide range of injuries.

The rehab program, if completed succesfully by the accused person, could result in their charges being reduced or dropped before they even make it to court.

Lehigh Valley Health Network placed the last steel beam to complete the frame of their medical office building and new emergency room in Montgomery County. This is the network’s first hospital in that county and it’s set to open in the fall of 2024.

With around 1 million people expected to attend Musikfest this year, health and safety take top priority for organizers. Everything from cooling misters to medical tents will be on site.

In the Lehigh Valley, one vape is thrown away every 105 seconds. When they end up as litter or in landfills, hazardous materials can leach into soil and contaminate groundwater.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

The new courts could be ready for play during the fall, but spring at the latest, one official said.

The $13 million contract was with the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program. A pandemic-era program, commonwealth farmers were paid to supply local food banks with fresh produce.

Jillian Mercado, a model and advocate who has spastic muscular dystrophy, urged those with challenges to continue fighting for equality at an event at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation on Wednesday night.

Planned for completion in Fall 2026, Lehigh Valley Health Network, now part of Jefferson Health, says the new facility will just about double the size of the existing emergency room at its 2545 Schoenersville Road hospital campus.

The Giant Company has made a $50,000 donation to the River Crossing YMCA to buy nearly 13,000 gallons of milk for its preschool students.

Project drawings also show a footbridge over the nearby mill race — a channel once used to move water to the Heller-Wagner Grist Mill about a half-mile north of the park.

The fast-growing, Philadelphia-based chain honeygrow opened May 23 in Airport Shopping Center at 1872 Airport Road, Hanover Township, Lehigh County.

The debut of the $48.5 million Lifestyle Community Center in Upper Macungie Township took another step closer on Thursday afternoon at a walking news conference. The first of 18 heavy timber trusses, imported from Austria, was installed this month on 188,000-square-foot, multi-functional indoor facility.

The hourlong program will be broadcast at 6 p.m. It takes a deeper look at the 2025 Pennsylvania Health Survey by the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion — and how Pennsylvanians view key public health issues, such as vaccinations.

The anonymous questionnaire focuses on opioids and illicit substances. Officials say it builds on the Allentown Health Bureau’s other work to address the ongoing opioid crisis.

Sixty-eight state parks across Pennsylvania now offer free menstrual products. It's part of a broader initiative to make public spaces across the commonwealth more accessible and supportive for all.

Councilman Frank Pintabone reintroduced his marijuana decriminalization ordinance at Easton City Council on Wednesday, aiming to turn possession into a summary charge. A vote on the matter is expected in two weeks.

Top-prize-winning projects include plans for an outdoor classroom at Trexler Middle School, several garden spaces and a free bike tune-up day.